Eric Jackson has worked in an administrative capacity at Oaklawn since 1978. In the 1980s, he helped develop the park’s interstate full-card simulcasting with merged pool wagering system. Simulcasting of this type now accounts for 80 percent of wagering placed on horse racing in North America. He became Oaklawn's general manager in 1987 and has served on Oaklawn’s board of directors since 1994.

The Hot Springs Planning Commission is scheduled to vote this week on a 58,000-square-foot expansion of Oaklawn Park's gaming area. Eric Jackson said Oaklawn has seen "organic growth" since the state legalized electronic gambling machines.